TSXV-listed Namibia Rare Earths has received positive results from analyses of archived soil samples over the Western Targets area on the Kunene cobalt-copper project in northern Namibia. These results confirm kilometre-scale cobalt anomalies previously inferred from a historic regional geochemical survey.

Namibia – Additional results are pending from targets identified along the DOF Extension and the Okanihova Targets.

Namibia Rare Earths is conducting systematic exploration over an area of 2 142 km² west of the newly discovered strata-bound Co-Cu discovery of Celsius Resources at Opuwo.

The Western Targets area is one of three principal cobalt target areas at Kunene. The three target areas were defined on the basis of soil geochemical surveys by previous workers exploring for copper in 2014 at a regional-scale sample spacing of 1 km.

Samples from those surveys were analysed by ICP, which is an acceptable analytical method for cobalt. Subsequently, more detailed sampling along selected lines at a spacing of 100 m utilised handheld XRF data, which provided reliable data for copper and other metals but was not reliable for cobalt.

Namibia Rare Earths is systematically re-analysing this archived database of over 12 000 soil samples to obtain reliable data on cobalt. Regional anomalies are being confirmed by repeat analyses of archived samples using ICP analytical methods for cobalt.

In the Western Targets area these anomalies extend over strike lengths of up to 7 km in basement rocks (high grade metamorphic gneisses and amphibolites) proximal to thrust contacts with younger sedimentary rocks, and for over 1-3 km in favourable sedimentary horizons (black shales and dolostones).

Basement-related anomalies (20-50 ppm Co) can be quite broad, up to 2 km wide, and are related to large-scale alteration systems.

Cobalt anomalies are lower level (20-30 ppm) in sedimentary horizons and more restricted which is consistent with the exploration model developed for the stratabound Dolostone Ore Formation (DOF) Co-Cu targets which may be only 5 – 10 m in thickness and occur in black shales and dolostone horizons.

Field teams are currently conducting geological mapping and rock sampling over these anomalous areas.

The Kunene project area is contiguous with ground being actively explored for cobalt by Celsius Resources. The recognition of stratabound cobalt mineralisation associated with low grade copper and zinc mineralisation in black shales in the Kunene region by Gecko Exploration has formed the cornerstone of Celsius Resources’ current drilling programme at Opuwo.

Celsius is undertaking a 15 000 m drilling programme to develop a JORC compliant mineral resource to support its stated “Initial Exploration Target of between 33 and 41 Mt, grading approximately 0.13% – 0.17% cobalt and 0.45% – 0.65% copper.

It is noted that the potential quantity and grade of this Initial Exploration Target is conceptual in nature, and that there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource.